The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-15
A PARALYZER OF BUSINESS
Such, Say Indianapolis Shippers, Is the
Interstate Laws Character.
The Ruinous Effect of Its Discrimination in
Freight Rates-Loeal Instances of Its
UnfairnesS and Inconsistency.

Freight hdleS-L0cal instances OF It's
UnfairneSs and Inconsistency.
The meeting of business men at the Board of
Trade rooms. at II o'clock yesterday morning,
for the purpose of giving expression to their
sentiments concerning the interstate-com-
merce law and the injury its operation is occa-
sioning the material interests of this city, was
called to order by Mr. Silas T. Bowen, who said
the law had been in operation out nine days. and
the disastrous results seemed to require prompt
action upon the part of the Board of Trade.
The subcommittee appointed from the general
committee then made the following report:
Your committee would respectfully report
that the business of the city of Indianapolis
and especially the shipping, grain and manu-
featuring interests. are at present paralyzed and
will be permanently crippled by the lack of fair
and legitimate competition among the railroads
as the result of the operation of the Interstate
commerce act And we believe the conditions
of the fourth clause of said act the most
injurious to shippers in this city and vicinity.
and the country at large. and likewise work
hardship to the railroad interests of the city and
State. And we recommend that the Board of
Trade of Indianapolis petition the Interstate
commerce Commission TO at once suspend the
operation OF the fourth clause, and of all other
provisions of said act which may conflict with
companies of the country until such time as
Congress can meet and repeal the same.
The committee further petitions your honora-
BILE body for relief from the exactons of the
railways in regard to issuing of mileage tickets.
They either have no right to issue at all. which
we do not consider to be the intent of the law,
or, having the right to do so. that was no reason
for the advance above former rates of $40 per
thousand miles. We take the position that
there is no reason or authority for any increase
In rates. and that the same should not exceed $50,
which we believe to be reasonable and just, and
within the scope of the law.
Your committee further recommend that
committee of three shall be appointed by this
Board of Trade which, after securing all facts
and causes for complaint, shall be empowered TO
go at once before the interstate commission and
place said facts before the commission in the
most forcible manner on behalf of this city and
State and the business of the country at large,
at the expense of this board And. further,
that this committee be empowered to thoroughly
investigate existing determinations aud to make
additions to the petition to the commission.
OTTo STECHHAN, Chairman.
ARTHUR JORDAN. Secretary.
Mr. W. +. Piel, who, behalf of the commit
tee, presented the report, moved its adoption
Upon the question being put by Mr.. Bowen, a
number of speeches were made
VIM. Scott of the firm of VIM. Scott & Co.,
grain dealers. said: Il am in favor of this
luton, being satisfied that unless Section i IS
repealed or moro liberal construction placed on
it, the pork, grain, milling and heavy manufact-
urlng interests In our city swill be paralyZed.
Indianapolis has over 81 900, 900 invested in
elevators Touring, hominy and oil mills and
starch factory with a considerable amount
employed as capital in running these
enterprises and in handling the product. Our
Touring mills, running full, use over 10000
bushels of wheat and turn out from 1000 to
$500 barrels of flour per day. Our homiuy
mills use 10, 900 bushels of corn per dav and our
fact 2 hush As tn tha ital
invested in the pork packing and manufacturing
interests, and the value of their product some
one better posted must say. but we all know it
is a large amount. Now these enterprises
all located IN Indianapolis because of Its position
as railroad center, and other advantages The
parties interested could have bought cheaper
ground, with lower taxes and less expensive
labor at some country town, which, under
the present Interpretation of the law,
possess really cheaper shipping facilities
than this city; but they preferred come here
and pay the additional cost of plant. taxes and
operating expenses on account of the railroad
advantages indianapolis had, and which we
claim she should still have. Under the provis-
ions of this bill these different enterprises must
either shut down work at a positive loss.
Our Touring mills cannot obtain wheat at any
fair price, because from points where the local
! rate to indianapolis is to cents per hundred
| pounds the through rate to the seaboard is only
| from to AZ cents per one hundred pounds over
| the rate from Indianapolis, making a difference
| of to 4 cents per hundred pounds against the
| Indianapolis miller. The rule applies on
| corn for our hominy mills and starch factory,
while the oil mill, which must draw its supplies
| from the far West and Northwest cannot pos
sibly compete with either their Eastern or
| Western competitors. and their plant is rem
dered practically valueless. AS for elevator
| stock. as things now are, would any purchaser
pay % cents On the dollar!
las one instance of where Section hurts, l
| will recall the fact that Two years ago when
there was short wheat crop in Missouri. Kan
sas and western Illinois, Indianapolis and terri
tory tributary thereto sent the bulk of the
! wheat receipts TO st. Louis. netting several
cents per bushel higher price than could be OBJ
tanned at the seaboard elsewhere, of which
the producer received the benefit This
was possible because the railroads made
5 cents per 100 pounds from indianapolis to St
Louis. Then there times every year when
| receipts of wheat are light, and stocks here
| are very much depleted TIE millers want
wheat, and are willing TO pay premium almost
| or wholly equal to their profit. to get stock to
| keep their mills running and supply their trade.
The dealers then 60 to the railroads, explain the
| situation, name the rates they afford to pay,
| show conclusivey it's either that or nothing,
make freight contract, and buy the wheat
! probably in ST. Louis Now, here the commits
sion man, the railroad and the miller are all
| benefited, though without concessions all round
neither could have got anything. But be they
ever so willing, the railroads could not help out
In such case now, as under this clause they
would thereby be compelled to place every sta
ton on their line similar basis, and then
could not restore rates without ten-davs' notice
| But believe the present Interpretation of
Section is erroneous. II says that it shall be
unlawful for any common carrier, subject 10 the
| provisions of this act, to charge or receive any
| greater compensation in the aggregate for the
transportation of passengers of like kind OF
property under substantially similar circum
stances and conditions for shorter than long
er distance. Now, submit that shipments from
indianapolis and local points not under sui
stantially the same conditions and circum
stances Twenty-Five years ago. when ". P
Gallup. Fred Rush and Vance Noel did the
grain business here. and Uncle John Carlisle
was the principal miller, the great bulk of the
grain handled and milled here was hauled by
wagon and was raised in territory adjacent Il
the city. The whole milling capacity did mo-
then exceed 500 barrels Ter day. Now over 9:
per cent. of the grain shipped from Indianapoli:
comes by rail, and has already paid one, and il
some cases two or three locals, and should bt
considered, under any fair construction of the
law, as actually in transit. If this grain was
raised in Center township Marion count,
there might be some justice in the claim that i
Is placing smaller points at a disadvantage tt
give Indianapolis the benefits to which she il
justly entitled, owing to her situation and rail
road facilities. This will also apply to lumbe